I'm just going to piggyback off your comment-- it's sound advice, and a lot less nasty than some of the other things people are saying in this thread.
OP, if you are reading this, I want you to know that when I got engaged, I shared the views of many readers in here: "Why would I waste $25,000 on one day?" "Weddings are just a stupid waste of money," etc. I originally wanted to have a tiny ceremony with just our parents, siblings, and grandparents and do it as cheaply as possible. We ended up planning an intimate wedding for 25-guests and it is the perfect wedding for us.
The most important thing is to figure out what amount of money you and your fiance are comfortable spending on a wedding. This amount will be different for each person. It doesn't matter if it's $2k, $5k, $10k, $15k, $20k, whatever. Take a weekend away and think about it seriously. Don't feel pressured or bullied into spending more than you want to on your wedding. You should feel good about the number that you settle on.
Your love is worth celebrating, and it's okay to spend money on yourself, on your fiance, and on your wedding. It took me a long time to realize this. And remember that the wedding, while about you and your fiance, is not only for you, but also for your families. It was so important to our family that they could be there for us on our wedding day, and it means a lot to me that they cared so deeply.
In your life, there are only two days when everyone will gather together to celebrate you: your wedding, and your funeral. You will only get to experience your wedding. So it's okay to spend money on a wedding if that makes you happy, because for many people it is one of the best days of their lives, and one that you will likely always remember and treasure.
You also don't need to have the wedding that everyone else is having, and you don't need to spend $25k. Spending more money won't necessarily make your day more magical or more special, and it won't make your relationship or your marriage better. Decide on a budget first, then guest list. (Make two lists: "Must attend" and "Would like.") Then you can start planning. Good luck!